14-year Makeover
All webcomics go through many changes throughout the years, and many I have seen, do make it successfully. Some do not, which is unfortunate, but it does bring other positive changes and a new opportunity to their work and career in art.
A brief history of Penguin Capers:
In the early 2000s, perhaps as far back as 20 years ago, 2 of my penguin characters were created: Joey and Meg, the superheroes I invented in my later childhood. In 2006 I began an amateurish endeavor to create a comic about teen sibling superheroes without much knowledge about what it might look like to a reader or even much about comics and sequential art. I have since learned a lot about comics as a medium and the many different genres that have come about because of personal tastes. I started out drawing comic strips, then migrated toward more of the graphic-novel style of storytelling beginning in 2011.
What are you doing? Why is there so much dissertation?
Before I proceed, a short history of how Penguin Capers began is important to understand why this is such a big deal, and a huge step for me. I’ve been working on this comic since 2006 and has gone through many, many changes in these years since it’s been published. I’m currently in a position to be able to do this because I feel my skill as an artist and storyteller has grown and matured enough to be able to re-boot this series. Though I do not have an actual proper term for this, I will continue to use re-boot.
Firstly, it’s not a true reboot as it is a re-telling of the same stories I’ve already published. I want to give myself a second chance at telling these stories with more clarity and draw more matured illustrations. The nature of my work will largely remain consistent with the older versions (storylines) of this work.
Secondly, I want to re-build my brand to be a better person seeking new opportunities.
While I understand that this is based solely on my personal endeavor, I want to be able to have my hobby to potentially reach new readers as well as regain some long-time ones I’ve lost.
When is this happening?
I have projections to launch the new, updated Penguin Capers later this year. Why? I’m working on an entire comic by myself! What takes a team to do a graphic novel or comic book in an estimated 2-3 months will take me nearly twice as long since I have a full-time job to sustain my current needs; this comic is worked on in my spare time.
What will become of the older story arcs?
There is no need to worry. I emphasized previously—I’m planning to re-publish these stories as part of the reboot. They are the same stories with more clarity, but with newer, better art! Hooray!